Slideshow

The Summer Retreat

The engagement of twice-monthly confession, the rains retreat (summer retreat, Tib. yarne) and the closing of the rains retreat by a monastic community is a glimpse of virtual evidence of the Buddha-dharma existing in its pure form. Basically, the continuation of pure Buddha-dharma solely depends on the monks' communities which engage in the aforesaid retreats. Nowadays people have their own definition of the pure dharma according to their own capacities and dispositions, but in general the respect of the Vinaya's precepts and good maintenance is unarguably mandatory!

In Yarne, all monastic communities, especially of the Geluk sect, here in South India, are busy engaging in numerous events. These include annual protector puja days, debate presentation of selected candidates during the assembly on their subjects, the Ven Abbot's and Ven Disciplinarian's speeches on monastic discipline in the traditional manner, recitation day of Ornament for Clear Realisation (Abhisamayalankara) and Treatise on the Middle Way (Madhyamakakarika) and so on. Apart from all that, the display of an oral test of major treatises by a monk who has razor-sharp memorisation skills is considered the most attractive of all. This unique presentation takes place during the monks' assembly, followed by the debate presentation (two selected candidates debate each other). A monk who voluntarily comes forward to tackle such a monumental task is quite a rare case in the monasteries. This is because of the regular sessions that limit memorising opportunities and the necessity of extraordinary skill. Additionally, these days, the presence of modern education in the school makes it even harder, but a few have managed to do it so far who are endowed with the necessary skills in abundance. An oral test volunteer will be presented with an upper yellow robe and a set of general robes by the administration if he successfully passes the oral test without making mistakes.


In a session, three presentation events follow each other: 1) oral test presentation; 2) uma she rig geshe's rite recitation and tantric debate test; and 3) debate presentation by the selected monks. A session's period is well allocated as per necessity to all these three events, but the schedule is tight. Therefore, the oral test could not be done in a single session and thus is held each day of Yarne. The assembly oral test is mostly based on these treatises; The Essence of Eloquence on the Interpretive and Definitive Teachings, Root Treatise of Pramana-varttika, Root Treatise of Abhidharma-kośa, Root Treatise of Boddhisattva's Way of Life, etc are the most common. This year, Thupten Gyatso and Dakpa Tsering both came from a poor background in Nepal and joined Shar Gaden in 2006, has just pulled off their preparation and are now all set to enter into the milestone that very few could achieve. Thupten prefers
The Essence of Eloquence on the Interpretive and Definitive Teachings,
that has 232 pages and 20 long phrases per page, composed by the great master Je Tsonglhapa in Tibet, while Dakpa prefers Root Treatise of Pramana-varttika, which has 208 pages, 28 phrases per page, composed by the great Indian philosopher Dharmakirti in 7th century. We wish them all the best and may their noble deeds bring peace to the world.

Cultivation of Rice Fields

From 29th of May 2010, Shar Gaden has started cultivating 20 acres of rice fields which were allotted to us during controversial partition in March 2008. In 1960s, Indian government allocated lands properties to every individual of Buzar monks one acre per a monk purposely for farming, so Gaden Shartse had nearly 90 members at the time. Later the allocation of properties including the land were based on quantity of Buzar members.

Even though we have established separate monastery, our manner of conducting puja, sustaining monastic systems and rules and regulations have been remained as same as we used to have to in Gaden Shartse which were assembled by Previous Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Song Rinpoche.

This unfolding information of activities related to farming has been important since some certain group of people making baseless allegation that Lord Dorje Shugden practitioners especially monasteries are receiving enormous financial patronage from Chinese Administration for many years, as everyone knows that the main source of economy growth of the monasteries in South India are generosity of their benefactors, monks tour program in abroad and profit of selling crops to local distributors etc neither we are involved as mentioned nor other monasteries.

Once Gelong Lepe Karma said "I have been with Gautam Buddha and had examined him for 12 years, and I have not seen a tiny thing in the name of wisdom in him" Maybe this quote will suit very well with these people who are in reality not blind but pretending being blind. Who are getting what and who are involved is concise and most noticeable only if your mind is not partially preconditioned !

In these photos, monks are willingly working co-operatively with the hired Indian villagers in the fields despite of scorching weather 36 D 'c (fahrenheit)

By Jampa

The Notice Put on Saverel Walls Aroung Camp 3, Tibetan Settlement Mundgod

Since couple of months, there have been many similar activities putting notices outside the shops and restaurants around the camp 3, Tibetan Settlement Mundgod. I should not describe in detail what has been mentioned in these letters as these are most noticeable that what the allegation would be like.... so I have tried to translate them into English which I am not that good so hopefully it will be a comprehensive one...

1)To Devotees of Avalokiteśvara,

In camo no. 3, near the mustachioed Amdo's restaurant, a shop owned by a family of camp 4, they are Shugden worshipers thus, you all are strongly recommended not walk in or buy anything from this shop.

by the group of enemy defeater-



2) To the Ministry of Security of Exile Government,


Sonam Dolma wife of Lobsang Choejor and Kalsang Dorje in Tibetan Camp No. 4 have been facing various problem since they were alleged as a Shugden worshipers. Later they have taken oath in front of red and black protectors with presence of all the people in community hall of camp no 4. We (representative office) have received a confirmation letter from the leaders of camp 4 that the oath taking session has done compulsorily before all the people and protectors.

From The Representative Office of Mundgod on dated: 2nd, February 2010

Lord Dorje Shugden Movie Project

Dorje Shugden on the trail of a Buddhist protector is a documentary film project. The general idea is to do documented research on the origin and practice of the Buddhist protector deity Dorje Shugden. We will travel to Tibet and surrounding countries, visit historically relevant sites and talk to its followers and masters all over the world. Important for us is to show the practice as integrated part of a living Buddhist tradition without going into the recent controversy. We will have a rather scientific and objective approach, understandable for everybody. To see how Dorje Shugden practitioners realize their protector practice in their day to day life offers a different way of perception.

Team

The dedicated team consists of five people and together we represent quite some expertise. Students of film and visual design, a professional photographer, a monk, known for his knowledge on the subject and a professional sound designer, not to forget helpers and friends, translators and organization talents. We are all very happy to be part of this exceptional project and with your help we will definitely have a wonderful result for now we wont upload our pictures here, to avoid difficulties during our shooting. Please be patient with this we will update this section in some time. Meanwhile you can always contact us via e mail or skype to get more personal information. Never- theless we want to state here that this project is not connected to any organization. Although we will ask our teachers for advice the project is completely independent.


Storyboard

Storyboard This documentary film is made to present well researched information about the Buddhist protector deity Dorje Shugden. In order to bring facts to life, we want to show and document them in their original context.

For more info: log on to www.dorjeshugdenmovie.com or
contact: info@dorjeshugdenmovie.com


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He is now 20 Yrs old !

Beijing- China's controversial choice as the second highest Tibetan Buddhist leader has been named to a parliamentary advisory body, amid an apparent push by Beijing to promote his legitimacy. The naming of 20 years old Gyaincain Norbu to the body followed news last month that he had been elected vice-president of the Nation's Buddhist Association. Gyaincain Norbu was enthroned by China as the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995 ceremony oversen by the communist party, which had rejected a boy selected by the Dalai lama, Tibet's Exiled Spiritual leader. He has now been named as a delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)-a body that advices the National People's Congress (NPC) ......................

excerpt from- The Straits Times (Singapore)